The lakes, which make up the Kenya Lakes System, were the first to be added to the list during the current World Heritage Committee session. The new heritage site covers a total of 32,034 hectares and marks the first African site to be listed since 2007.

The lakes lie on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, which cuts through Kenya from north to south. The three lakes are a crucial part of one of the largest bird migratory routes in the world, providing a winter home for more than 100 migratory avian species.

Flamingos are also common there — the area sustains three quarters of the world's population of lesser flamingos. The area also supports a major breeding ground for the great white pelican and is home to 12 globally threatened bird species.

In addition, mammals such as the lion, leopard, waterbuck, hippo, baboon and reedbuck can be spotted in the park. Nakuru has been declared a black rhino sanctuary, and populations of white rhino and Rothschild’s giraffe have been introduced from Southern Africa.